Treatment Process: Raw water storage, AFM filtration, Nanofiltration, Chlorine dosing, Storage and automation

Industry: Platinum Mining

Eastplats Crocodile Mine, one of South Africa’s leading platinum group metals mining operations near Brits, North West, required a more sustainable approach to treating hard borehole water, they partnered with Biozone Manufacturing to engineer a solution that challenged conventional thinking.

The Challenge

Water analysis identified excessive hardness in the mine’s raw water supply. Traditionally, this type of treatment relies on salt-based softening systems, which require significant quantities of salt for regeneration, ongoing transport and storage logistics, increased labour requirements, and the disposal of saline waste streams.

For a modern mining operation focused on efficiency and environmental responsibility, these challenges represented both an operational cost and an environmental burden. Eastplats required a solution capable of delivering softened process water for boiler operations while simultaneously producing drinking water that complied with both SANS 241 and World Health Organization (WHO) water quality standards.

The Biozone Solution

Rather than upgrading conventional technology, Biozone Manufacturing engineered an alternative.

The result was a fully containerised 12 kL/hour Nanofiltration Purification System, designed, manufactured, installed and commissioned specifically for the operational requirements of Eastplats Crocodile Mine.

The treatment process incorporates:

• Advanced AFM pre-treatment filtration
• High-performance nanofiltration membranes
• Automated chlorine dosing
• Real-time online monitoring
• Containerised modular design for rapid deployment and simplified maintenance

Unlike conventional water softeners, the system significantly reduces hardness without relying on continuous salt regeneration, lowering operating costs while reducing environmental impact.

Engineering for Long-Term Performance

Every Biozone system is engineered around operational reliability rather than minimum specification.

For Eastplats, this meant designing a system focused on:

• Low energy consumption
• Long-life filtration media
• Reduced maintenance requirements
• Stable membrane performance
• Continuous online monitoring
• Simplified operation for mine personnel

Integrated monitoring provides operators with live information on treated water quality, borehole abstraction volumes, storage tank levels, and overall plant performance, enabling proactive management and optimisation of the treatment process.

Delivering Measurable Results

The completed installation now provides Eastplats with a dependable source of treated water for both industrial and potable applications.

Key project outcomes include:

• Continuous production of softened boiler feed water
• Safe drinking water that meets SANS 241 and WHO standards
• Approximately 80% reduction in water hardness
• Elimination of conventional salt-based softening
• Lower operational and maintenance costs
• Reduced environmental impact through minimised brine generation
• Improved operational visibility through real-time monitoring systems

A Partnership Built on Innovation

Mining environments demand robust engineering solutions capable of performing under demanding conditions.

The Eastplats project demonstrates Biozone Manufacturing’s ability to combine advanced membrane technologies, intelligent system design, and practical operational engineering into a single integrated solution that delivers measurable value over the long term.

By replacing traditional water softening methods with advanced nanofiltration technology, Biozone helped Eastplats improve water quality, reduce operational complexity, and move towards a more sustainable approach to industrial water treatment.

Project Summary